The Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church service on December 15, 2018 began with Eric (senior) welcoming everyone. Rodney Herra had a prayer of dedication for the group going on the Mexico Missions trip. He then went over the order of service again to make sure everyone understood what this was.
Jeremy Westcott played an introit. Gustavo (sophomore) had the invocation; the congregation then sang “O, When Shall I See Jesus”. Eric (senior) had the main prayer; the congregation responded with “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord”.
Mark (junior) then called for the offering. John Ellis and Eliseo (junior) then collected the morning offerings; the loose offering went to the local church budget. The congregation sang the doxology, and Mark prayed for the offering.
Carol Worley told the children about lost and found. Jesus talked about lost sheep, lost coin, and lost sons. At Laurelbrook there are lost horses. Jesus also cares about lost people who don’t know Him.
Gustavo read the scripture reading. Isaiah 55:8-9 “8 For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Gustavo discussed the topic “Justification, Sanctification, Glorification”, Mark assisting him. The Laurelbrook Choir sang several songs while waiting for several members to come from the nursing home, Pedro Acre conducting. When the missing members arrived, they sang “Because He Lives”, accompanied by Samantha (junior) on the piano. Mark had the closing prayer.
Personnel Other Than Students:
Carol Worley – Pastor Richar’s mother-in-law (Pastor Richar is the campus chaplain)
Jeremy Westcott – teaches some of the academy English classes
Pedro Arce – heads up the campus music progrram
Rodney Herra – head local church elder / former Laurelbrook staff member now running an auto repair business on Dayton Mountain
Following are some notes on the sermon by Gustavo:
- Justification – God declares a sinner righteous. Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
- When we experience heaven’s peace, then we know that we are justified and right with God.
- Sanctification – the process by which we gradually are changed. John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
- We are born again during sanctification.
- Glorification – we are filled with the glory of God. Philippines 3:20-21 “20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”
- How can we glorify God today?
- Justification means we are saved from sin.
- Life is going to give you all kinds of problems, but with God we can keep climbing higher away from these problems.